Early Graphics in Normal Maps

This is a sub-page of Spelunky (2012).

The game uses normal maps for a few assets, but some parts of the normal maps end up unused. Some of the unused normal map sections depict graphics from much earlier in the game's development, some of which were changed or never made it into the game in non-normal map form. Unfortunately, these being normal maps causes a lot of detail to be removed, and they are stored as JPGs, causing further quality loss. Still, the normal maps can be used to see many early graphics.

Andy Hull intended for a lot more to be normal mapped, while Derek Yu wanted to keep everything clean, bright, and readable. Some stuff that Andy Hull wanted normal mapped did end up getting into the final game. Some of the unused normal map content is confirmed to be from the original lighting engine used for the game.

(Source: BeatTheDev (Andy Hull, Spelunky HD Lead Programmer)

Some of these normal maps seem to cause development timeline oddities from something being missing while a related asset is in the sheet. This is likely because the normal maps were based on the sheet at that point in development when it was unfinished. As development progressed, the normal maps were updated with what was needed while leaving the unused rest of it untouched.

alltiles Normal Map#

The sheet alltiles.png, like the name suggests, contains basically all of the tile graphics. This sheet has a normal map, alltilesN.jpg, and it is used on a few specific assets. The used normal maps are not the only graphics on this sheet; the rest of it is filled with an early version of alltiles containing many differences.

The assets that use this normal map are:

City of Gold door.
Ice tiles.
An unused solid block entity with the ID of 56.
The entire City of Gold section, except for the broken gold Tiki Trap decoration.
Hell's climbable chains.
Regenerating Blocks found in the Worm, but not their background decorations.
The indestructible bordertiles found in the Mothership, including their edge-of-tile decorations.
Almost the entire Worm section, with a few exceptions that will be explained in its section below.
City of Gold's unique ladders, though they are mapped to a copy of the normal ladder's graphics.
The gems found in the main door of the entrance. These are mapped to blank tiles, so they only appear shiny in-game.
The ankh floor decoration found in the City of Gold. This is mapped to a blank tile because it was moved in alltiles without correcting it in alltilesN.
Background graphics of pillars, an arch, and tiles with gliphs on them for the City of Gold.

Below is a downscaled comparison of the full images. Individual sections of the images will be compared at full resolution further down.

alltiles	alltilesN

Mines#

alltiles	alltilesN

The left half of the image is taken up by the regular Mines floor graphics. Regular floor graphics are actually split up into four 1x1 tiles, two 1x2 tile chunks, two 2x1 tile chunks, and four 2x2 tile chunks. Two of the 2x2 tile chunks, the ones to the right and up-right from the chunk with the T-Rex bones, are different in alltilesN. A 1x2 chunk in the top-right is also different in alltilesN.
There is only one foreground spike and background spike graphic in alltilesN. Background spikes would get three versions, and foreground spikes would get two versions in alltiles.
Instead of a Powder Box, there is a half-tile in its place in alltilesN. This half-tile greatly resembles the wooden flat top shop floors have in Spelunky Classic. This tile appears two more times in alltilesN.
The tile above the half-tile is an unknown tile with a rocky texture.
The 2x1 stone Idol platform has a different design in alltilesN depicting an Idol.
The bottom-right of the image is reserved for unused Spelunky HD-styled versions of the entrance and exit from Spelunky Classic. These graphics appear a few more times in alltilesN.

Jungle#

alltiles	alltilesN

In the regular terrain graphics, the large rock in a 1x2 chunk in the top-right is missing in alltilesN.
In the regular terrain graphics, the leaves in a 2x1 chunk in the middle-left is missing in alltilesN.
There is only one foreground spike and background spike graphic in alltilesN. Background spikes would get three versions, and foreground spikes would get two versions in alltiles.
The royal grave and Ash grave are missing in alltilesN.
Haunted Castle decoration graphics are missing in alltilesN.
The vine graphic on the right side of alltiles is missing in alltiesN. This vine frame is used to give vines more variety.
The block that disappears as part of the Jungle and Temple (Prayers to Kali) Idol traps has a different design and place in alltilesN. This different design depicts an Idol instead of a skull and the block has a square frame.
The decorations above the tree roots and stained glass window in alltiles are different in alltilesN.
The tile above the half-tile in the bottom-right is an unknown tile with a wooden texture.
Tiki Trap graphics ended up replacing the Spelunky Classic-styled doors and the unknown half-tile.

Ice Caves#

alltiles	alltilesN

In the regular terrain graphics, the bottom two 2x2 chunk graphics are not unique in alltilesN.
There is only one foreground spike and background spike graphic in alltilesN. Background spikes would get three versions, and foreground spikes would get two versions in alltiles.
Snow-covered versions of graphics are not in alltilesN
Two tile decorations in the middle top-right of the image are missing in alltilesN.
The half-tile returns again, this time next to another unique unknown tile with a wooden texture in alltilesN.
Catacomb graphics for the level transition to the Haunted Castle were placed here, as well as some tree decorations in alltiles.

Temple#

alltiles	alltilesN

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the City of Gold door.

The entire Temple tileset appears to be an earlier version with less detail.
- The swirls in the tileset are not in alltilesN.
- The face displayed in the tileset in certain arrangements is not in alltilesN.
The ladder graphics in alltilesN got replaced with closed door graphics in alltiles. These graphics are encountered in Olmec's Lair.
In alltilesN, one tile to the right of the ladder platform at the top, an unknown tile with a very dense brick design exists.
Spike graphics got added here just for Temple Deathmatch arenas.

Misc Floor 1#

alltiles	alltilesN

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the ice tile. The tile under the middle Mothership elevator is normally used as a Psychic Presence decoration, but an unused entity with the ID of 56 also uses this tile and is normal mapped.

There is a lot going on in this section:

Thin Ice was going to shrink upward like in Spelunky Classic, but it was changed to become more cracked the longer it was stood on.
The Spike Ball pivot block is not in alltilesN.
This part of the tileset is where Kali's altar and broken decorations for the 2x1 stone platform under trapped Idols got placed.
Shop signs for Hired Hands and Wheel of Prizes are missing in alltilesN. In place of the Hired Hand sign is instead a sign with a game die on it! At one point in development, the Dice Houses from Spelunky Classic were planned to return, but ended up getting replaced by the Wheel of Prizes. This is the only leftover of Dice Houses in Spelunky HD. Dice Houses would eventually make their grand return in Spelunky 2.
The tree tile graphics appear rougher in alltilesN, suggesting a different design at this point in development. Some tree decorations are also missing in alltilesN.
Elevators and misc graphics for the Psychic Presence level feeling and the Mothership area are missing in alltilesN. In its place are Spelunky HD-styled versions of the tiles used for the Psychic Presence level feeling from Spelunky Classic! The Mothership would eventually become an area with a full tileset, so these specific tiles got replaced in development.
Blood graphics for spikes are missing in alltilesN.
The bottom-right tile that looks like a mass of yellow bubbles is missing in alltilesN. This graphic, with fancy lighting effects that make it hard to see normally, is used by the lava eruption effect that lifts the player and treasure in the ending.

City of Gold#

alltiles	alltilesN

Almost this entire section of the normal map is used, except for the broken decoration next to the gold Tiki Trap.

It seems like this section in alltiles was pasted into alltilesN when the section was close to or already final. This is why City of Gold's graphics are finished in alltilesN, while Temple's graphics are an early version, despite City of Gold being a recolor of Temple.

The top-right is reserved for broken tile decorations. This section in alltilesN appears to have multiple sets of these decorations overlayed on top of each other.
The decoration for a broken gold Tiki Trap ended up replacing a unique Spelunky HD-styled version of the City of Gold door from Spelunky Classic.

Hell#

alltiles	alltilesN

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the climbable chains and the Regenerating Block.

The regular terrain graphics are missing a lot of the larger decorative chunks. The ones that are there appear to be early versions.
Two tile decorations in the middle top-right of the image are different in alltilesN. These decorations became a skull and a spiky rock.
Many background graphics to the right are missing in alltilesN.
Hell did not appear to have a unique Falling Platform design yet in alltilesN.
Earlier, a half-tile resembling Spelunky Classic shop floors was mentioned. In the bottom-right of alltilesN here is a full tile version of this graphic.
Strangely, Regenerating Blocks found in the Worm have the graphics stored with Hell's graphics. The background graphic is different in alltilesN.

Bordertiles#

alltiles	alltilesN

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the Mothership's bordertiles, including the tile decorations resembling metal brackets.

It seems like this section in alltiles was pasted into alltilesN when the section was close to or already final. Only the Mothership graphics needed to be there, but the whole section was pasted in anyway.

Only thing missing in alltilesN are some spike decorations for when spikes get placed on bordertiles.

Worm#

alltiles	alltilesN

Almost this entire section of the normal map is used, except for the top-left graphic, the acid tile decorations, spikes, and the Regenerating Block background graphic.

It seems like this section in alltiles was pasted into alltilesN when the section was close to or already final.

A few graphics were moved to make room for more graphics.
- A graphic in the middle top-right of the image was moved to replace a copy of the Push Block graphic.
- The empty space created by the above change, plus replacing a broken tile graphic made room for tile decorations for when a tile is next to acid.

MidBG#

alltiles	alltilesN

This section is named after the "MIDBG" entity from Spelunky 2. These graphics are found layered behind tiles and in front of the level's background.

It seems like this section in alltiles was pasted into alltilesN when the section was close to or already final.

Only difference here is that some graphics got added to alltiles in an empty space in alltilesN.

Hell Bricks#

alltiles	alltilesN

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the golden ladders found in the City of Gold. The normal map is of regular ladders though.

This section appears to be a copy-paste of the Temple graphics.
Four tiles in the top-left were changed. These tiles became the Vlad's Tower Push Blocks, the closed door decoration found in Yama's Throne before Yama is defeated, and golden ladders for the City of Gold.

Beehive#

alltiles	alltilesN

This section appears to have used Temple's graphics as a base, so some elements from Temple are present.
- The broken tile decorations in the top-right are still from Temple.
The normal maps for the beehive tiles appear flatter than the used graphics, suggesting the normal map is an early design or the beehives were planned to be normal mapped.

Misc Floor 2#

alltiles	alltilesN

Note: A darker background was added behind the alltiles graphic to make the tally marks at the top easier to see.

Part of this section of the normal map is used for the main door gems, an ankh decoration found in the City of Gold, and the gold-colored background decorations in the bottom-left. The main door gems and ankh decoration are normal mapped to blank tiles, so they only appear shiny in-game. The ankh decoration was likely moved in alltiles without correcting its normal map in alltilesN.

It seems like this section in alltiles was pasted into alltilesN when the section was close to final.

Almost the same as the final version, but a few graphics were moved to make room for more graphics.
- The Classic Guy graphic was moved to make room for tally marks that appear in the entrance as more plays are logged in the save file.
- The gems that appear in the main door of the entrance were added in an empty space.
- The ankh decoration in the center was moved to make room for broken tile decorations for Hell's unique Idol platform.
The first two gargoyle statues in the bottom-right are used in the top of the Haunted Castle. The third statue is unused and has a human-like face. In alltilesN however, the unused statue appears to have a cat-like face instead.

Misc Floor 3#

alltiles	alltilesN

Note: A darker background was added behind the alltiles graphic to make the cobweb decoration easier to see.

This section is empty in alltilesN.

Mothership#

alltiles	alltilesN

This section is empty in alltilesN.
Mothership bordertiles existing earlier in alltilesN while the Mothership tileset is not seems to present a development timeline oddity. What probably happened is that alltilesN is made from a version of alltiles before the Mothership's tileset was created. Normal maps for Mothership's bordertiles were needed, so they were pasted in during development. The Mothership tileset is not normal mapped, so a normal map was never made for it and pasted into alltilesN.

Minewood#

alltiles	alltilesN

This section is empty in alltilesN.
This section being missing, combined with graphics earlier in alltilesN resembling Spelunky Classic shop floor, suggests that stuff that uses this tileset either had a very different look or was not implemented yet. Jungle's Tiki Village level feeling probably did not exist until after this tileset was made.

items Normal Map#

The sheet items.png, like the name suggests, contains basically all of the item graphics. This sheet has a normal map, itemsN.jpg, and it is used on a few specific assets. The used normal maps are not the only graphics on this sheet; the rest of it is filled with a slightly earlier version of items containing some differences.

The assets that use this normal map are:

Small gold embed.
Large gold embed.
Emerald.
Sapphire.
Ruby.
Diamond.
Gold bar.
Gold bars.
Gold nugget.
Idol.
Crystal Skull.
Hedjet.
Ankh.
Spectacles.
Sceptre.
Gold Key.
Udjat Eye (open eye graphic).
Vlad's Amulet.
Bubble (from Snails and acid).
Royal Jelly.
"ICECAGE" as named in Spelunky 2. This is the ice cube around a frozen entity.
Worm tongue.
"ICESPIRE" as named in Spelunky 2. This is the falling icicle created by the Yeti King's yell.
Gold Crush Trap.
Honey.
Coin (from Hell ending treasure).

Below is a downscaled comparison of the full images. Individual sections of the images will be compared at full resolution further down. Notable individual item graphics will be compared first, then segmented pieces of the full sheet to mention missing graphics in itemsN. Because items has some graphics that can be easily missed with a light background, it will be shown with a darker background.

items	itemsN

Individual Comparisons#

Hedjet#

items (Used)	itemsN (Used)

The small protrusion in the bottom-left is smaller in itemsN. This normal map is used by the game, but it is basically impossible to notice this oddity in-game.

Mummy Flies#

items (Used)	itemsN (Unused)

The wings of the flies appear to be bigger in itemsN.

Temple Ceiling Trap Doors#

items (Used)	itemsN (Unused)

The normal map in itemsN depicts an early version of the door with differently designed skulls.

items (Unused)	itemsN (Unused)

The early design of the door in itemsN is the same early design used in unused sprites that show the individual door graphics broken. In the final game, the whole door breaks at once.

Whip#

items (Used)
itemsN (Unused)

Many of the whip's swing frames are different in itemsN.

Machete#

items (Used)
itemsN (Unused)

Frame 5 is slightly lower in itemsN. Frame 6 is also lower in itemsN, and it has a bigger smear frame as a result.

Mattock#

items (Used)
itemsN (Unused)

Frame 6 is completely different in itemsN. Frame 7 is at a different angle in itemsN. Frames 8 through 11 are positioned more to the right in itemsN.

Crysknife#

items (Used)
itemsN (Unused)

Frames 6 and 7 are at a different angle in itemsN. Frames 8 and 9 are slightly lower in itemsN.

Full Comparisons#

Top-Left#

items	itemsN

No graphics are missing in itemsN here.

Top-Middle#

items	itemsN

No graphics are missing in itemsN here.

Top-Right#

items	itemsN

No graphics are missing in itemsN here.

Bottom-Left#

items	itemsN

The Haunted Castle door graphics are missing in itemsN. Part if it being placed in a blank tile mixed with other graphics suggests that the blank tiles were intentionally left blank for the graphics to be added later.
The blood splat left by the losers in Deathmatch is missing in itemsN.
The eggplant is missing in itemsN. The eggplant's placement in the sheet suggests that it was one of the final additions to the game.
The sloth damsel's graphics are stored in items and are missing in itemsN. This is because the sloth damsel was added in an update to the game as a secret, and the only sheet with enough leftover space was items. Making normal maps for the sloth damsel was not needed.

Bottom-Middle#

items	itemsN

The black and yellow sihlouette-like graphic to the left of the isolated crown graphic is missing in itemsN. This graphic is used in the Hell ending, and represents the Hell ending treasure getting shot out of the volcano.
The isolated crown graphic and the crowned skull graphic are missing in itemsN.

Bottom-Right#

items	itemsN

No graphics (aside from the previously mentioned sloth damsel) are missing in itemsN here.

exitdoors Normal Map#

The sheet TU_exitdoors.png contains all of the normal entrance and exit door graphics. This sheet has a normal map, exitdoorsN.jpg, and it is only used for Ice Caves, Worm, and City of Gold doors. This sheet also contains unused normal maps for Mines, Jungle, Mothership, Temple, and Hell doors. All of these unused door normal maps match the final door graphics, except for the Temple door graphics.

TU_exitdoors (Used)	exitdoorsN (Unused)

The one difference is that the exitdoorsN version is missing the decoration on top of the doorframe. Interestingly, City of Gold's doors are also missing this decoration, suggesting that those doors are based on an early version of Temple's doors. What likely happened was that Temple's doors got updated, the normal map did not get updated because it is unused, and then City of Gold's doors were forgotten to be updated.